Baltimore shooting: 12-year-old girl killed in crossfire after parking dispute

A 12-year-old girl has been shot and killed after two men opened fire on each other during a parking dispute at a youth football game in Baltimore.

The shooting happened at around 6:15 pm on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at Leon Day Park in the west of the city. A local youth football league, the Charm City Buccaneers, was holding its homecoming event when the gunfire broke out.

Who are the victims?

The 12-year-old girl was a bystander watching the football game when she was caught in the crossfire. Officers administered first aid at the scene, but she later died from her injuries at a nearby hospital.

Four adults were also wounded in the shooting:

• A 25-year-old woman who was with the girl at the time of the shooting.
• A 23-year-old man who walked into an area hospital.
• A 28-year-old man who also self-presented at a hospital.
• A 35-year-old woman who suffered a graze wound to her back.

All four surviving victims are reported to be in a stable condition with injuries that are not life-threatening.

What caused the Baltimore shooting?

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the violence was sparked by an argument over a parking space.

"The dispute most likely occurred from a stupid parking spot, and they get into a fight, and the two cowards pull guns on each other," Worley said during a press conference on Saturday night. He explained that one of the gunmen "fired multiple rounds down range", hitting the young girl near the playing field.

Investigators found two different types of cartridge cases at the scene, indicating that both suspects were armed and fired shots.

Mark Brown, a coach with the Charm City Buccaneers, said the shooters were "miscellaneous outsiders" who had nothing to do with the football league, which has operated for 29 years.

"This happened over a parking spot," Brown said. "It was avoidable."

What happens next?

Police are searching for the two gunmen, who are described as adult men. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott expressed outrage at the shooting, calling the gunmen "cowards" who could not resolve a simple disagreement without resorting to weapons.

"Two grown men, or so-called men, got into an argument, and now this baby is gone," Scott said. "What happened out here today is one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen in my life."

The Baltimore Police Department has asked anyone with information to contact homicide detectives or Metro Crime Stoppers.